Secrecy surrounds filming of Gina Rinehart movie

Mandy McElhinney on set, playing the character of Gina Rinehart. Photo: Diimex

Tensions are high on the set of the new telemovie about the life and times of Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart.

Cameras began rolling this week on location in the Sutherland Shire, although production crew have been busy trying to protect the shoot from any prying lenses, going to great lengths with tarpaulins being erected to thwart the paparrazzi.

However, images have surfaced showingactor Mandy McElhinney in character as a young Gina Rinehart in the telemovie House of Hancock.

The film is due to screen on Channel Nine next year and focuses on the fraught relationship between Rinehart and her late father, mining pioneer Lang Hancock, being played by Sam Neill, following his marriage to his former Filipina housekeeper, Rose Porteous, who is being played by Malaysian-born Australian actress Peta Sergeant.

McElhinney previously revealed to PS her mix of trepidation and excitement about playing Rinehart.

"I'm very excited but, as with anything, when you are just starting, it is very intimidating, especially when you are playing someone who is alive.

"I was very familiar with Gina's story, I'm from WA and it was all anybody talked about. That was a really fascinating time in my life, with so many things happening in WA with all those big businessmen and Rose ... I can remember as a kid thinking it was like something on Dallas ... it is still such an incredible story to this day.

"Gina has lived a life and a lot of what has happened to her has manifested itself physically, and that's what I'll be exploring as the character progresses ... the story of how she became the richest woman in the world."

McElhinney rose to fame as lovestruck Rhonda in the car insurance commercials, played maverick magazine maven Nene King in Magazine Wars and has just finished another series of Love Child, also for Channel Nine,